Walking group’s tough challenge raises thousands for Hospice

A walking group for people with health conditions has raised an impressive £1,800 for Weston Hospicecare. The Carlton Ramblers were sponsored to complete the Mendip Challenge, a walk of up to 30 miles along the West Mendip Way.

There are around 12 members of the Carlton Ramblers, who all have mental or physical health conidtions. The walking group was the brainchild of staff at the Carlton Centre in Weston-super-Mare, who thought it would make a good health activity for the people who used the Centre’s various partner services.

Several years on, the group has taken on a life of its own, and the Carlton Ramblers now organise their own meetings every Tuesday to support one another while taking a six to eight-mile hike around the local area.

For the last six years, the Ramblers have taken on the Mendip Challenge to raise money for Weston Hospicecare. Nick, one of the group’s members, explained that the Challenge provides them with a great motivation and focus:

“The walking group has really helped us to improve and sustain our health and wellbeing.  As people who know first-hand how important it is to be supported, we wanted to be able to give something back to others.

“Taking part in the Mendip Challenge every year is a great personal challenge for all of us, and the satisfaction of being able to give something back through fundraising for the Hospice is really important to us.”

The Mendip Challenge is an annual sponsored event for people who would like to have fun outdoors, challenge themselves and raise money for Weston Hospicecare. There are 10, 20 and 30 mile routes along the West Mendip Way in the Somerset hills – or a five mile fancy dress route along the beach! You can walk or run, on your own, with a team or with your family and the dog, and there’s food, drink and music to enjoy at the finish line.

Over six years of doing the Mendip Challenge, the Carlton Ramblers have raised over £5,000 for the Hospice. And most impressively, most of the group now complete the 10 or 20 mile challenge distances – one member has even completed 30 miles. This huge achievement has made a big difference to the Ramblers’ health, as well as to Weston Hospicecare and all the local people who rely on their services.

If you’d be interested in joining the Carlton Ramblers, they would love to hear from you. Please get in touch via the Carlton Centre. They would also recommend the Mendip Challenge to other walking groups. To find out about taking part in the 2016 Mendip Challenge, please visit www.westonhospicecare.org.uk/challenge-hospice or call the Hospice on .